Does Breastmilk Stain? (Yep! and Here’s how to Remove It)

“Did the dog pee on the laundry?!” I nearly shrieked, rifling through the pile of clothing that I had just washed. She must have; why else would there be yellow stains on my baby’s bibs, onesies, and…everything else? I knew I shouldn’t have left the clothes sitting on the couch…

Well, as it were, the dog was innocent. The cause of the stains? Me, myself, and baby; it turns out that breast milk can turn any fabric a “lovely” shade of yellow, even after it’s been put through the wash.

So, does this mean that all babies destined to wear splotchy, stained clothing for their entire nursing life? Not at all. With the proper method, you can get those stains out of fabric, and keep them out.

Let’s talk about breast milk stains.

Why Does Breast Milk Stain

You would be hardpressed to find a mother who doesn’t know that breastfeeding is healthy, but do you know exactly why?

Nature has made our bodies capable of producing breast milk that is not only rich in vitamins, but that also contains the much-needed fat and protein your baby needs. It’s the ideal concoction for your child’s early meals, and you don’t even have to wait in a checkout line to buy it.

Funny story, though; those proteins are responsible for the icky yellow tint that a breast milk stain can leave behind. And how about the (not-so) occasional ‘greasy’ stain? Yeah, that comes from the fatty part of your breast milk. It turns out good nutrition can be messy. (source)

What About Colostrum

Your body’s natural amuse bouche, colostrum, is produced during your pregnancy and for 2 to 5 days after you have given birth. It will then blend with breast milk for about 10 to 14 days before the complete transition to breast milk takes place, at which point colostrum disappears off the menu altogether.

One of the primary benefits of colostrum is that its jammed pack full of protein. Great for your baby, not so great for that snow white onesie because, as we discussed above, protein is quick to leave some unsightly stains on fabric. (source)

Getting Rid of Stains

The methodology behind removing stains is actually pretty straightforward, and something we will get into shortly. Before we get to the fun stuff, however, let’s brush up on some baby laundry tips.

Detergent Type

Broadly speaking, there are two kinds of detergents from which you can choose.

Biological Detergents: These products contain enzymes, and enzymes are troopers when it comes to breaking down a protein stain. They can also deliver a perfectly good clean in cooler water temperatures. However, these enzymes may also be a skin irritant, so some parents decide to bypass this type of product.

Non-Biological Detergents: Perfectly capable of taking on tough stains, these detergents do not contain protein-attacking enzymes. You will tend to need to use higher water temperatures for a thorough clean, but some believe these products are easier on the skin.

Many popular brands make both biological and non-biological versions of their laundry detergents.
(source)

Pretreatment Options

Odds are, you are going to encounter a stain that is stubborn enough to require soaking in something stronger than cold water. In cases like these, you may be wondering what, exactly, is safe enough for your baby. Many parents have experienced exceptional results from using:

Hydrogen Peroxide: although eco-friendly and capable of cutting through stains, you might find it doesn’t get through greasy spots as well as some of its product-peers. (source)

Baking Soda: add four tablespoons of baking soda to 1/4 cup of water, and voila, you have an all-purpose stain remover. (source)

What About Bleach?

It can be tempting to just toss everything in the washer, along with a healthy dose of bleach, and call it a day. But, as frustrating as breast milk stains can be, we advise you put the bleach down and step away from the washer.

Bleach is harsh. Fun fact: it can actually break down polymers that give certain outfits, including some baby clothes, their fire retardant properties. (source)

Moreover, bleach can irritate the delicate skin of our babies. If you do resort to using bleach, be sure to run the laundry load through an extra rinse cycle or two.

What About Mom’s Clothes?

It’s not just the baby’s clothes that are going to take a breast milk beating from time to time. Odds are, you have stained shirts, sheets, and bras just begging to step through that washer door.

The good news is, all of the above will work for your clothes as well. So simply:

Rinse off the breast milk.

Pretreat your fabric.

Gently rub with a soft-bristled brush.

Allow the pretreatment to soak in.

Wash per the garment label’s instructions;

Dry in the sun; your clothes can reap the benefits of a natural bleach, too.

While it might be tempting to use detergents that are a little more built for strain fighting business, remember that your baby’s bare skin will continuously be in contact with your body and clothing. In the interest of not accidentally passing along something that might be irritating to young skin, we advise parents to stick with milder products whenever possible.

Wrapping up

Remember: improperly treated milk stains can reappear on clothing even after it has been put through a normal wash cycle. To avoid this, be sure to master your rinse, pretreat, and scrubbing skills; you don’t want those stains surprising you when you’re putting away clean laundry.

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